Heartland Park petition drive has 600 to 700 signatures

Topekan Chris Imming said more than 600 signatures have been gathered for a petition drive seeking to bring about a ballot question regarding Heartland Park Topeka.

Between 600 and 700 signatures have been gathered for a petition drive seeking to bring about a ballot question regarding Heartland Park Topeka, organizer Chris Imming said late Wednesday.

The drive seeks to force a public vote on whether to overturn the Aug. 12 vote by the city’s governing body — consisting of the Topeka City Council and Mayor Larry Wolgast — to buy the financially troubled Heartland Park racing facility.

Shawnee County counselor Rich Eckert last month approved the form of Imming’s petition, clearing him to begin gathering signatures.

Imming said he understood petition drive supporters have until Oct. 10 to acquire the 2,132 valid signatures of registered city of Topeka voters.

Shawnee County election commissioner Andrew Howell recommended anyone holding a petition drive seek to receive an additional 25 percent over what is required to offset any signatures of people who aren’t registered Topeka voters. That would amount to 2,665 signatures.

Imming said petition drive organizers haven’t checked each signature against the list of registered voters, “but we know there are some invalid signatures for people not registered or who don’t live in the city.”

Imming said those circulating the petition haven’t solicited signatures outside big box retail and grocery stores because “we have contacted the largest retailers and grocers and have not been given permission to solicit signatures outside the store entrances.”

Imming said the petition will be available for residents to sign:

■ From 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. Saturday in the parking lot at Oakland Community Center, 801 N.E. Poplar.

■ From 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at California Crossing, 2007 S.E. 29th, in the parking lot just south of S.E. 29th near the mail drop.